Rain

Rain a gift of nature
Very essential to mankind
But, its devastating nature
Is very unfair indeed

Floods earthslips everywhere
Lightning bright
Strikes man in fright
Without any care

No one is aware
What nature plans
To ruin the cities fair
And show its anger on innocent clan

The helpless man cannot stop
However much he tries
Except to accept with a cry
The hazardous falling drop

N.R. Majeed

A wish

There were two precious things
For me in this world.
One was my dearest Thaththa
I always remember the days
We spent together,
Laughing, joking, playing all the time
We enjoyed mostly because
You were always the principal Sir for Amma
For you were a dearest father
For you I was always a kid,
You pet me as a small child
You frowned at me when I was naughty
You saw me as a bright student
You saw me as a charming little bride
I know, you were eager to see me
As a mother,
Among the two wishes I have
One is to be your Chooty Duwa again
Be my beloved Thaththa again, Please.

Sakunthala Malathi Munasinghe

Why

You killed an innocent butterfly;
But for no reason, I don't know why?
And now you say you want to cry;
No use, your tears won't make it fly.

Palitha Solomans

Soap opera

When the clock marks eight, their faces turn bright,
And before the magic-box they all gather.
The remote in his hand like a magic wand,
Son looks at himself, the father and the mother.

There comes the daughter, with a glassful of water,
Looking for a cozy chair to sit.
the seats are all reserved, as the early comers deserved,
Sitting inthe parlour well lit.

The ladies look glamorous, but never too amorous,
Excellent Sinhala do they speak.
Well-dressed gentlemen, wealthy businessmen,
Of corruption they rarely reek.

Being so entranced, off the screen they rarely glance,
Too engrossed in the drama are all.
From the lovely screen they so badly want to glean,
The words of wisdom that fall.

'The half-hour past, the names of the cast,
Now on the screen appear.
Ecstatic are the children, delighted are the parents,
Even the cat looks happier.

The mother looks so serious while the daughter is curious,
They discuss what will happen tomorrow.
'The trailer is too short', the son voices his thought,
And they all now look forward to the morrow.

Jayashantha Jayawardhana

Palm reading

I can read the palm
Of the sun
And predict when
It would emit dappling light,
And when it would be
Eclipsed by the moon

I can read the palm
Of the moon
And predict when
It would be the brightest,
Having seemingly emerged
From the milky see,
And when it would be
Devoured by the demonic Rahu.

I can read the palm
Of the ocean,
And predict when
It would lie in quietude,
Rocking the boats of fishermen
In gleeful mood
and when its waves would work
Into tsunamic proportions.

I can read the palm
Of the river,
And predict when
It would flow down in an amble
In visible sprilightliness,
And when it would transgress
The banks in swollen fury.

I can read the palm
Of the wind,
And predict when
It would wander gently,
Solacing man and plant alike,
And when it would form into a storm.

I can read the palm
Of the cumulus cloud,
and predict when
It would come down in drizzles,
And when it would do so
In torrents.

But I can't read my own palm,
And predict what is in store
Fro me morrow.

Kamal Premadasa

Parents - travails and anxieties

Bring up, fondle, cajole
Rejoice, loving and kissing tears all told
Grown up, then proud father and mother
For all the world to see that is what it matters
No end to the joys, they tumble one by one
The degrees, honours, endless achievements
All like a dream in fleeting moments
Then starts the stream and leaving one by one

Year by year its all then gone
Now where are we father and mother
Wrinkled, freckled too weak to see
Alas! those days of joy - now only dream

Far beyond call now and then to wet our eyes
Our trembling hands to hold on to
The price we paid the joys and sorrows we endeared
Is it to see your sons and daughters leave our shores now
Languishing abroad
This is our life that's your life
Pray - Oh God-this country has peace and tranquillity
To see us all sons and daughters, fathers and mothers united again
It should not be a wish in vain.

R. Rajalingam

In dedication to you - my soul mate

I remember clearly the first time we met
When our eyes clashed across the college hall,
Where students had assembled for a debate
You were handsome and the leader of the other batch,
And I promised myself "He is my catch"
And soon you and I were going on mad cycle chase
When I should have been dancing with grace.

I remember you carrying my books for me,
And shielding me from the college bullies
And waiting with your pockets full of nuts and cherries

I remember our first innocent kiss
And thanking God for giving you - my priceless gift
But you were in a hurry, and I was not
We not knowing your times running out
For what began a mere headache
Was the beginning of my sheer heartache
And soon I bade a tear drenched farewell
Oh! How can I forgive myself
For having been so prim and proper
To let you go without fulfilling your desire

Now as I sit alone, on the golden sandy beach,
(Where you and I used to very often meet)
Watching the moon glide by,
My heart begs please God, give me a second chance
To be with you on the other shore
Never to part,
Never to hurt

Sita Nadarajah

Victory or Victims?

War never brings
Victory
But only a multitude of
Victims
In war, who said
V is for victory
Definitely V is for victims
The acclaimed victors
Finally become victims
Wars are never won
Only the joy of living is lost
Man battles for reasons of his own
He plans for eternity
On the soil of the earth.

But the clock keeps ticking
And 'bang!' in a moment
His life can be snuffed away.
So what will be take
From here to the next
His sophisticated weapons
of destruction
Power and prejudice?
Nay! Nothing, nothing!
Only the good and the bad
he's done
Will see him through
to the life beyond.
Heaven or hell he will gain
on his actions on earth!
So for this little while
You are here
Make not humanity
Victims of war
But give them a reason to live
And make them beautiful
instruments of peace!

Arundathy Gunawardena

Corridors of my mind

Through the haze of time
I see her mischievous smile
Hear that tinkling voice
See those wafting tresses
A memory of sweet sadness

The sound of her shoes
On the door step
The thrill of the turning key
The wafting fragrance of Davidoff
Now a lingering memory

The silken tresses scattered on the pillow
Drifting over her peaceful face
A distance and a silence
Of an untold pain
I never asked, why?

Then her playful smile
Those restless tresses
And the warm embrace
Slipped away
Leaving only the memory

PaliKo